Positive air pressure therapy device, kit and methods for the use and assembly thereof

Abstract

A positive air pressure delivery device includes a housing having an inhalation inlet, an inhalation outlet, and an interior cavity in fluid communication with the inhalation inlet and outlet. A pressurized fluid inlet includes an outlet orifice in fluid communication with the interior cavity between the inhalation inlet and outlet. A sound reducer baffle has a convex dome surface positioned downstream of and facing the outlet orifice in a spaced apart relationship therewith. One embodiment of the housings includes a body, an end cap and a baffle insert. In various embodiments, the positive air pressure delivery device may be used in combination with other therapy devices, including an OPEP and pressure indicator. A kit and method of using the device are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A positive air pressure delivery device comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 an inhalation inlet; 
 an inhalation outlet; and 
 an interior cavity in fluid communication with the inhalation inlet and outlet; 
 
 a pressurized fluid inlet comprising an outlet orifice in fluid communication with the interior cavity between the inhalation inlet and outlet; and 
 a sound reducer baffle having a convex dome surface positioned downstream of, facing and in-line with the outlet orifice in a spaced apart relationship therewith, wherein the outlet orifice is adapted to direct a fluid flow toward the dome surface. 
 
     
     
       2. The positive air pressure device of  claim 1  wherein the housing comprises a body having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the pressurized fluid inlet is coupled to the body, and an end cap is secured in the inlet end, wherein the end cap defines the inhalation inlet. 
     
     
       3. The positive air pressure device of  claim 2  wherein the end cap is removeably secured in the inlet end. 
     
     
       4. The positive air pressure device of  claim 2  wherein the body comprises a first alignment feature and the end cap comprises a second alignment feature, wherein the first and second alignment features are aligned when the end cap is secured in the inlet end. 
     
     
       5. The positive air pressure device of  claim 2  further comprising a baffle insert comprising the sound reducer baffle, wherein the baffle insert is secured in the outlet end, wherein the baffle insert defines the inhalation outlet. 
     
     
       6. The positive air pressure device of  claim 5  wherein the baffle insert is removeably secured in the outlet end. 
     
     
       7. The positive air pressure device of  claim 5  wherein the body comprises a first alignment feature and the baffle insert comprises a second alignment feature, wherein the first and second alignment features are aligned when the baffle insert is secured in the outlet end. 
     
     
       8. The positive air pressure device of  claim 5  wherein the baffle insert defines a multiplier chamber surrounding the orifice outlet upstream of the sound reducer baffle. 
     
     
       9. The positive air pressure device of  claim 5  wherein the baffle insert comprises a tubular member defining a flow channel, wherein the baffle is disposed in the flow channel and coupled to the tubular member with a plurality of spokes, wherein the plurality of spokes defines a plurality of openings between the plurality of spokes, wherein the plurality of openings are adapted to let air flow between the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
       10. The positive air pressure device of  claim 2  wherein the inhalation inlet defines a first axis, and wherein the inhalation outlet defines a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are not coaxial. 
     
     
       11. The positive air pressure device of  claim 10  wherein the first and second axes are parallel. 
     
     
       12. The positive air pressure device of  claim 10  wherein the inhalation inlet is at least partially surrounded by an expansion chamber defined by the end cap. 
     
     
       13. The positive air pressure device of  claim 12  wherein the expansion chamber has an end wall configured with muffler features. 
     
     
       14. The positive air pressure device of  claim 13  wherein the muffler features comprise a plurality of ribs and/or indentations. 
     
     
       15. The positive air pressure device of  claim 1  wherein said interior cavity defines a venturi surrounding the outlet orifice. 
     
     
       16. The positive air pressure device of  claim 1  wherein the body comprises a first tubular portion defining an annular cavity surrounding the inhalation outlet. 
     
     
       17. The positive air pressure device of  claim 16  further comprising a therapy device having a second tubular portion, wherein the second tubular portion is adapted to interface with the first tubular portion. 
     
     
       18. The positive air pressure device of  claim 17  wherein the second tubular portion is received in the annular cavity. 
     
     
       19. The positive air pressure device of  claim 17  wherein the therapy device comprises an oscillating positive expiratory pressure device. 
     
     
       20. The positive air pressure device of  claim 17  wherein the therapy device comprises a pressure indicating device. 
     
     
       21. The positive air pressure device of  claim 1  wherein the outlet orifice is oriented in a downstream direction away from the inhalation inlet and toward the inhalation outlet. 
     
     
       22. A positive air pressure assembly kit comprising:
 a body comprising;
 an inlet end; 
 an outlet end; 
 an interior cavity in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ends; and 
 a pressurized fluid inlet comprising an outlet orifice in fluid communication with the interior cavity between the inlet and outlet ends; 
 
 an end cap adapted to be coupled to the inlet end, the end cap defining an inhalation inlet adapted to open into the interior cavity; and 
 a baffle insert adapted to be coupled to the outlet end, the baffle insert comprising a sound reducer baffle having a convex dome surface adapted to be positioned downstream of, facing and in-line with the outlet orifice in a spaced apart relationship therewith when the baffle insert is coupled to the outlet end, the baffle insert further comprising an inhalation outlet. 
 
     
     
       23. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 22  wherein the body comprises a first alignment feature and the end cap comprises a second alignment feature, wherein when the first and second alignment features are aligned, the end cap may be secured to the body, and wherein when the first and second alignment features are not aligned, the end cap is not capable of being secured to the body. 
     
     
       24. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 22  wherein the body comprises a first alignment feature and the baffle insert comprises a second alignment feature, wherein when the first and second alignment features are aligned, the baffle insert may be secured to the body, and wherein when the first and second alignment features are not aligned, the baffle insert is not capable of being secured to the body. 
     
     
       25. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 22  wherein baffle insert defines a venturi adapted surrounding the outlet orifice. 
     
     
       26. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 22  wherein the body comprises a first tubular portion defining an annular cavity surrounding the inhalation outlet, and further comprising a therapy device having a second tubular portion, wherein the second tubular portion is adapted to interface with the first tubular portion. 
     
     
       27. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 26  wherein the therapy device comprises an oscillating positive expiratory pressure device. 
     
     
       28. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 26  wherein the therapy device comprises a pressure indicating device. 
     
     
       29. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 22  wherein the inhalation inlet defines a first axis, and wherein the inhalation outlet defines a second axis, wherein the first and second axes are not coaxial when the end cap and baffle inserts are coupled to the body. 
     
     
       30. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 22  wherein the end cap defines an expansion chamber at least partially surrounding the inhalation inlet. 
     
     
       31. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 30  wherein the end cap has an end wall configured with muffler features. 
     
     
       32. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 31  wherein the muffler features comprise a plurality of ribs and/or indentations. 
     
     
       33. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 22  wherein the outlet orifice is oriented in a downstream direction away from the inlet end and toward the outlet end. 
     
     
       34. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 22  wherein the body is a one-piece unitary member. 
     
     
       35. The positive air pressure assembly kit of  claim 22  wherein the baffle insert comprises a tubular member defining a flow channel, wherein the baffle is disposed in the flow channel and coupled to the tubular member with a plurality of spokes, wherein the plurality of spokes defines a plurality of openings between the plurality of spokes, wherein the plurality of openings are adapted to let air flow between the plurality of spokes. 
     
     
       36. A method of administering a positive air pressure to a user comprising:
 passing air through an inhalation inlet of a housing into an interior cavity of the housing; 
 introducing a pressurized fluid into the interior cavity through an outlet orifice of a pressurized fluid inlet and thereby accelerating the air in the interior cavity of the housing; 
 impacting a convex dome surface of a sound reducer baffle with the pressurized fluid, wherein the convex dome surface is positioned downstream of, facing and in-line with the outlet orifice in a spaced apart relationship therewith; and 
 passing the air and the pressurized fluid through an inhalation outlet. 
 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 36  further comprising passing the air and pressurized fluid between a plurality of spokes holding the baffle in a flow channel prior to the passing the air and the pressurized fluid through the inhalation outlet.